In Colorado, one of these regulations is a requirement that trucks undergo an annual safety inspection. As the winter driving season quickly approaches, Colorado State Patrol troopers have been working tirelessly to inspect thousands of trucks traveling through the Centennial State.

Improperly secured loads, unadjusted brakes, lack of tire chains common problems

During the first week of September, State Patrol troopers inspected nearly 3,000 trucks. A total of 24 troopers work in the Colorado State Patrol's Motor Carrier Safety Division, and all of them have been working hard to ensure compliance with safety requirements for large trucks.

To facilitate the inspections, troopers set up stop points and signs along heavily trafficked roadways indicating that any truck and trailer combination with a total weight of more than 10,000 pounds was required to stop. This weight requirement easily encompasses most commercial tractor-trailers, but even many large pickup trucks pulling some type of trailer weigh in at well over 10,000 pounds and are therefore required to stop for an inspection. Failure to stop is punishable by a fine, and troopers have been pursuing large trucks they observe bypassing the inspection points.

Troopers check the trucks to ensure they meet a number of important safety requirements. Some of the most common issues include an improperly secured load and brakes that are out of adjustment. Troopers also ensure compliance with hours of service regulations during the stops; commercial truckers may only be on the road for so long before taking a rest, and electronic counters attached to the wheels can tell officers if a driver has been risking fatigued driving and operating in excess of the hours of service limitations.

In Colorado, tire chain requirements are also important for large trucks. Trucks that weigh in at over 26,000 pounds must carry tire chains in Colorado from September 1 to May 31. Tire chains can be very important in winter, allowing truckers to keep control of their vehicles in slippery weather conditions. Drivers caught without chains can be fined.

Overall, most drivers are cooperative and most trucks pass the inspection. However, State Patrol troopers report that about ten percent of those stopped have some safety problem.

Lost a family member in a truck crash, or injured yourself? Contact a Colorado lawyer

A truck accident can be a life changing event for victims who are injured. Many truck accidents even result in fatalities, devastating the loved ones of victims. The safety checks the Colorado State Patrol is currently conducting are meant to help prevent as many of these crashes as possible. But, those ten percent of noncompliant drivers, and many others like them who are able to skirt inspection, can slip through the cracks and cause accidents.

If you have been injured in a Colorado truck crash, or if a family member has been killed, you may have legal remedies available. A truck crash lawsuit cannot heal your wounds or bring back a loved one -- but it may allow you to secure financial compensation that can help you through a tough time and get your life back on track. Talk to a Colorado truck accident lawyer today to learn more about your legal options.

Article provided by The Frickey Law Firm Visit us at www.frickey.com